November 1, 2008
By Sara Aase Digital printing processes have created greater demand for inflatable logos, characters, and product replicas as eye-catching marketing tools, while at the same time reducing costs, increasing productivity, and expanding product lines for printers. Cold-air inflatables are used by any kind of business that wants gawker appeal, from car dealerships and hot dog …
Compiled by Juli Case We’re making a product that goes inside a factory and will be exposed to temperatures of 400 F. We’ve got the fabric; any suggestions for an FR thread that we can use? FR usually stands for flame retardant, but that may not be what you need here. Sometimes a material will …
I’ve heard that the U.S. government is giving incentives to businesses for insulating their buildings. Where can I get more information? Compiled by Juli Case We contacted the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and were informed that there are tax incentives for U.S. business owners who make their operations more energy efficient. We were directed …
From seed to store, protecting agricultural products with fabric. By Jamie Swedberg The same elements that make farming possible—the sun, the rain, the wind, the web of life—also make it a challenge. For every gentle rain, there is a pelting hailstorm. For every beneficial microorganism, there is a voracious bird that devours the last berry. …
The same trends that are driving development in wovens are expanding applications for nonwovens. By Janet Preus According to Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar, supervisor of the nonwovens laboratory at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, the nonwoven industry is worth about $60 billion, most of it in disposables and semidurables. That is changing, however, driven in part …
Tent and apparel manufacturers target their products to outdoor sports enthusiasts, finding niches—and profit. By Holly O’Dell By nature, outdoor sports enthusiasts are an adventurous crowd. They’re also very committed to their activity of choice, a trait that makes them more willing to buy items that will enhance their experiences. To that end, tent and …
An innovative textile with the potential to significantly reduce injuries inflicted by terrorist attack, industrial accident or natural disaster has won a national award designed to spotlight the best in performance textiles. The 2008 Performance Textiles Award for Excellence was presented to Heathcoat Fabrics Ltd. for the Auxetix material, developed in association with Auxetix and …
With its European counterparts blazing the trail, the North American vinyl (PVC) roofing industry has announced a new phase in its commitment to environmental sustainability through recycling. The Vinyl Roofing Division of the Chemical Fabrics & Film Association has initiated a feasibility study to evaluate strategies for making postconsumer recycling viable on a broad scale …
Nora MacDonald, a West Virginia University (WVU) professor in the fashion design and merchandising program, has been named president-elect of the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA). MacDonald came to WVU in 1971 as a textiles, apparel and merchandising instructor. In addition to teaching, she conducts research and creative activities related to clothing for the …
In late September, 73 U.S. Representatives, led by textile caucus co-chairs Howard Coble (R-N.C.) and John Spratt (D-S.C.), sent a letter to President George W. Bush urging his administration to extend and expand the Textile Monitoring Program (TMP) to cover U.S. textile and apparel imports from China, beginning on Jan. 1, 2009, the first day …